I couldn’t make enchilada sauce and not make enchiladas. It just doesn’t make sense.
And because I’ve somehow never put sweet potatoes in enchiladas (practically my favorite food), it had to be done. May we present EPIC Sweet Potato Black Bean (+ Kale!) Enchiladas!? Let us show you how it’s done.
Origins of Enchiladas
It’s believed that enchiladas may have originated from a similar Mayan dish called papadzules. But the first written recipe for enchiladas was in an 1831 cookbook called El Cocinero mexicano (source).
Typically, enchiladas are made with meat, seafood, beans, cheese, potatoes, or vegetables stuffed in corn tortillas and topped with enchilada sauce. The word “enchilada” is a form of the verb “enchilar” which means “to season with chile.” And chilies are the heart of enchilada sauce!
The following is our plant-based take on the concept, using some of our favorite ingredients: sweet potatoes and black beans!
How to Make Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
This 9-ingredient recipe starts with perfectly roasted sweet potatoes cubed and tossed with smoky spices.
While that’s happening, prepare your black beans, kale, and Enchilada Sauce (If you haven’t already).
Once your sweet potatoes are roasted, toss with beans, kale, and a little enchilada sauce for extra flavor.
If you want, you can also add some store-bought vegan cheddar cheese – but we didn’t find it necessary. All that’s left to do is fill, roll, and bake to perfection!
We hope you LOVE these enchiladas! They’re:
Hearty
Savory-sweet
Super flavorful
Satisfying
Protein- + Fiber-rich
& So delicious
This would make the perfect meal when you have a little extra time on your hands and want to make something extra hearty and flavorful. Top with whatever sounds delicious! We went for a simple avocado crema, jalapeño, and cilantro.
These enchiladas are delicious on their own, but they also pair well with things like our 5-Ingredient Ginger Beer Margaritas, Mexican Quinoa Salad with Orange Lime Dressing, Vegan 7 Layer Mexican Dip, Chips + Easy Red Salsa, Mexican Salad Cups, or one of these other 14 Mexican-Inspired Recipes!
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
Ingredients
TORTILLAS
- 10 small yellow or white corn tortillas*
FILLING
- 3 cups cubed sweet potatoes (skin on)
- 1 Tbsp coconut or avocado oil (or sub water)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 2 cups chopped kale (or other sturdy green)
- 2 Tbsp water
- 1 15-ounce can black beans* (drained // or sub pinto or refried beans)
- 1/4 cup Red Enchilada Sauce (or store-bought)
SAUCE
- 3 cups Red Enchilada Sauce (divided // or store-bought)
FOR SERVING optional
- Cilantro
- Guacamole, avocado, or Avocado Crema (see notes for recipe)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C) and position a rack in the middle of the oven.
- Add cubed sweet potato to one large baking sheet (or more as needed) and drizzle with oil (or water), cumin, paprika, and salt. Toss to combine.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until sweet potatoes are fork tender and slightly caramelized. Set aside to cool. Also reduce oven heat to 350 degrees F (176 C).
- In the meantime, add your kale to a large cast-iron or metal skillet over medium heat with 2 Tbsp (30 ml) water. Cover and steam for about 4-5 minutes or until kale is slightly softened but still vibrant green. Uncover and set aside. (You could also sauté the kale in a bit of oil if you prefer.)
- Add drained black beans to a mixing bowl with steamed kale and roasted sweet potatoes. Add the smaller measurement of enchilada sauce to the kale and sweet potatoes and stir to combine.
- Wrap tortillas in damp cloth towel and microwave to warm for 30 seconds to make more pliable. (Alternatively, place wrapped tortillas directly on oven rack for a few minutes to heat through.) This will help them become more pliable and easy to roll.
- Pour about one third of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of a 9×13-inch (3 quart | or similar shaped) baking dish. Spread to coat.
- Lay one corn tortilla down in the saucy dish to coat. Then flip it over to coat the other side. Fill with ~1/3 cup of the filling. Then roll up and lay seam-side down at the edge of the dish. Continue until all tortillas are filled and rolled, adding more sauce as needed to moisten tortillas. Add any remaining filling to the edges of the dish. If you run out of space to roll the tortillas in the baking dish, continue saucing, filling, and rolling them on a small serving plate.
- Pour remaining enchilada sauce over the top of the enchiladas in a stripe down the middle. TIP: Use less sauce for slightly drier enchiladas. The more sauce you use, the more tender the tortillas will become.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (176C) for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through. Top with desired toppings and serve. We went with fresh jalapeño, cilantro, and avocado crema (recipe below), but these enchiladas are delicious on their own!
- Leftovers will keep covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days or in the freezer up to 1 month, though best when fresh. Reheat in a 350-degree F (176 C) oven for 15-20 minutes or until warmed through.
Video
Notes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (60 g) raw cashews, soaked in very hot water for 1 hour then drained
1 small ripe avocado (~3/4 cup or 113 g)
1/2 cup (8 g) chopped cilantro
3 Tbsp (45 ml) lime juice
1/4 tsp sea salt
water to thin (~1/2 cup or 120 ml)
Directions: Blend until creamy and smooth. *To keep this recipe grain-free, sub Plantain Tortillas for the corn tortillas. *In place of canned beans, you can use 1 1/4 cup homemade black beans per one 15-ounce (425 g) can beans. *Nutrition information is a rough estimate based on using corn tortillas and without optional ingredients.
JoAnn says
Made this for dinner today and it was simple and delicious. Great flavors! Can always count on your recipes! Thank you for sharing them.
Aw, thanks for your kind words and lovely review, JoAnn!
Carol V says
Delicious. It’s on our make it again list. We didn’t have the right peppers to make the enchilada sauce so we had the store bought kind, and we couldn’t find the corn tortillas at the store so we used flour. I had an extra Serrano pepper I added to the mix just to use which was good. I might add more kale next time, and not cook all the enchiladas if I we aren’t going to eat them all at once because the tortillas got soggy.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Carol!
Jess says
I’m a picky eater, looking for vegetarian meals to incorporate into my diet, hoping to cut down on my overall waste and carbon footprint.
This picky eater plans to eat more of this meal! I’m not ready to go full vegan so I did use flour tortillas and added cheese to my enchiladas. I also used pre-made enchilada sauce due to time constraints. Regardless, the filling was delicious! First time ever knowingly eating kale, so big day for me! I’ll be making this one again for sure! :)))
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, kale included ;) Thanks for sharing, Jess!
Celia says
We made this yesterday with cheddar cheese on top and subbed greek yoghurt for the cashews in the avocado crema. It was delicious!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Celia! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Celia says
Is there a non-vegan way to make the avocado crema? E.g. with sour cream?
Sure! You could sub sour cream in place of the cashews and reduce the water.
Anne says
I grew up eating authentic enchiladas but I recently became dairy free and more plant based. These did not disappoint they were so so good
Thanks for sharing, Anne!
Stephani says
Loved the flavor and it was so simple! Will definitely be adding this to the weeknight dinner rotation.
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Stephani! Thanks so much for sharing!
Jennifer says
Hello, I LOVE all your recipes. My daughter is vegan and she recently began living with me. She went home this weekend to sell her apartment big items and is on her way home now. I made your recipe just now. Of course, I didn’t have all the ingredients, which isn’t unusual for me. I am a haphazard cook. LOL. My sister says that’s the creative cook in me. I used GOYA pinto beans – the best, and hatch chiles are in season in Texas, so I chopped it and an onion in a skillet, sauteed it. Then threw it in with the mixture for the enchiladas. I haven’t eaten them yet, but all the flavors are going to be divine. I just know it. I will probably put cilantro and so will my daughter. She has some vegan cheese that she will probably add and salsa . Can’t wait. Thanks again!!
Aw, we’re so glad you enjoy our recipes, Jennifer! Love that you and your daughter can enjoy them together =) Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Jennifer says
By the way – they were delicious and had leftovers today! MMMwwwaahhh!!
Leigh says
This was so so so delicious. I thought we still had kale in the garden but didn’t so used spinach in a pinch. It was a good substitute I think but I’d be eager to try it with kale too. I also used flour, not corn, tortillas because it’s what my kids will eat. I’d prefer corn, but still, really good with flour. Finally, because of a deathly cashew allergy in the family, I didn’t make the avocado crema (waaahhh) but used sour cream for my non-vegan family and that was a nice addition.
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Leigh!
Zapladybug says
This was my second time trying this recipe; it’s delicious and I want to master it. The biggest issue I confronted this time was the corn tortillas–we used our favorite, go-to brand and I microwaved them in a damp towel (which is how we often warm them)–but after I coated them in the sauce and filled them they split open when I folded them. I ended up frying the tortillas in vegetable oil. That worked perfectly but I didn’t want fried tortillas. Any idea why this happened?
Hi! We wonder if the tortillas had dried out? Usually that’s what causes them to crack. Is it possible they were old or had been stored in the freezer?
Rachele says
I didn’t have corn tortillas so I used flour. Still turned out great. Hard to go wrong with these ingredients. Will definitely make this again.
We’re so glad it turned out well! Thanks so much for sharing, Rachele!
BND says
My first attempt for this recipe. It turned out pretty well and was a good change from the usual rotation of meals I’ve been preparing recently. I found the filling to be very mildly flavored. Will play around with that in the future. I added just a bit of corn to the mix and used a box of frozen spinach instead of the kale. The enchilada sauce turned out really well, as did the Avocado Crema. My husband enjoyed it. He’s been eating vegetarian meals more often these days.
Thanks so much for sharing! You could try doubling the spices in the filling for more flavor. Hope that helps!
Erica says
I made this last night and it was DELICIOUS. I added a little vegan sour cream to the enchilada sauce for extra creamy dreaminess. Even my carnivore husband was in heaven!
erica says
Also, forgot to mention, you MUST make it with the avocado cream, that bit of limey-ness makes the dish!
Ah, thanks Erica! So glad you liked it!!
CuppyCakerton says
The first time I made these they were pretty good, but I didn’t have all the right ingredients so I did my best with what I had. I made them again last night using all of the ingredients, and the avocado crema, and OH MY GOODNESS. It’s just a whole different level of amazing. The heat and smokiness is perfect and they’re filling without being heavy. I really can’t get over how delicious the sauce is.
We’re so glad you enjoyed them! Thanks so much for sharing!
Robyn says
Oh my god, this is one of the best recipes I’ve made from this blog. I was thinking to try it next time with some soft tofu and corn inside but it was wonderful as-is. The avocado crema came out tasting like a sour cream and complimented the dish beautifully.
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Robyn! xo
Nat says
FANTASTIC! Incredibly savory and filling. Such a gem of a recipe. I added half an onion and some garlic to the filling and put less sauce (personal preference). Garnished with cilantro and Greek yogurt. Any advice on how to freeze them?
Hi Nat, we’re so glad you enjoyed them! We’d suggest freezing in single servings in freezer-safe glass or plastic storage containers. Hope that helps!
Ellen says
Thank you for this and your other delicious recipes—they are always our first choice when trying something new! I added a package of frozen sweet corn to make a Three Sisters version of these. So tasty and fun to make!
Thanks so much for your kind words and lovely review, Ellen! xo
Kara Tsukerman says
These were delicious! I have made a different version in the past where the sweet potato cooks along with everything else and they never come out as well. I love how the sweet potato is fully cooked before going in with these. I served with chips and the 5 minute vegan queso, also on this site, and it was such a tasty and satisfying dinner!
That combo sounds divine! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Kara!
Josie Marsh says
This was excellent and I don’t often say that about vegan recipes! I did make this simpler enchilada sauce (and used 2 cups total). And I just tossed the kale in with the potatoes for the last 5 minutes. I did make the avocado crema and liked it, but my husband and kids all had it without.
Audrey says
These were delicious! The tip to warm up the tortillas WAS ESSENTIAL. I read other enchilada recipes and they never even mention this! Yum!
We’re so glad you enjoyed them and found that tip helpful, Audrey! Thanks for sharing!
Elizabeth says
Hi! I actually replaced the sweet potatoes in this recipe with the Moroccan carrots in your newer recipe! It’s so good. I made it last night (a scaled-down portion so there’s only two enchiladas) using black beans and leftover Moroccan carrots (warmed up to at least room temp.). Today, I heated up my 2nd enchilada, and it might even be BETTER today. I used your red enchilada sauce except I didn’t have any peppers, so I just used a LOT of red pepper flakes. It’s so good. I wish I had made a bigger batch for more leftovers ;)
So lovely! Thanks for sharing!
Alli says
Hi There,
Can you include cheese in this recipe? If so-where would you include it? When you roll the enchiladas up?
Thnx in advance!
-Alli
Hi Alli, We haven’t tried that, but it should work! Let us know how it goes!
Sarah says
Do you think that it would work to use some frozen kale in this recipe? Being on Covid-19 lockdown, we’re trying to limit what we get from the grocery stores and already have quite a bit of frozen kale at home. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work, but wanted to get your input before trying. :) Thanks so much!
Hi Sarah, we haven’t tried it, but it’s worth a shot! Let us know how it goes!
Karla says
Loved this recipe. My boyfriend loved it too. I didn’t have cashews so I didn’t make the avocado cream but the flavors were deliciouS! Thank you for such an easy and quick recipe!
We’re so glad you both enjoyed it, Karla! Thanks so much for sharing!
Leslie Sullivan says
These were delicious!! Spinach instead of kale, green enchilada sauce instead of red (only because I had those things on hand) and no time to soak cashews for the crema so made a guacamole and mixed with hummus. My enchiladas did stick to the bottom of the dish so I might spray pan next time. And there will most definitely be a next time. Thanks for this yummy recipe!!
Paula says
This was the first time I’ve made these but it won’t be the last ?
The recipe was easy to follow and the flavours were incredible. My only complaint is the amount of dishes I created. But definitely worth it.
Gwen Wren says
If I don’t have enchilada sauce on hand and don’t have the ingredients to make it can I puree diced tomatoes and add sautéed onions+garlic and spices to substitute? Any suggestions?
That might work! Maybe onion, garlic, chili powder, paprika, oregano, and cumin? You could also sauté a red bell pepper. Tomato paste will help thicken it and add flavor. Let us know if you try it!
Nathan says
These are great! I made them without the “For Serving Optional” items. I was worried I would want cheese or something else with them but they were great by themselves. It was the first time I ever used kale. I liked the texture it gave the dish.
Megan Rexin says
Okay, these are heckin’ delicious. I used a pre-made enchilada sauce, but can only imagine how great they’d be with homemade sauce (next time!). I didn’t have cumin (I kind of hate it unless it’s purely a supportive flavour; I can taste it from a mile away too haha) so I subbed in chili powder, and I also added a teaspoon of turmeric because why not? My final modification was adding half of a small rotisserie chicken (shredded), which worked really well but wasn’t necessary to make these as awesome as they are. Will definitely make these again!!
Thanks so much for sharing, Megan! We’re so glad you enjoyed them!
Sari says
These were fantastic! Made them with Trader Joe’s Enchilada sauce, but otherwise stuck to the recipe. The Avocado crema is a must! Served with baked plantains, lime wedges, corn & fresh cilantro. Used parchment paper for the sweet potatoes (and later the side of plantains) with a little spray of vegetable oil & they turned out perfect with easy clean up.
Anne says
Delicious!
Jillian says
Delicious! Have made this several times and it has become a family staple!
Angela says
Fantastic recipe! I cut the sweet potatoes super small so they cooked quicker. Was really yummy and easy to make. Thank you!
Kelly S says
Made this with spinach because it was about to go. I didn’t have enough sauce on hand so the last couple really stuck to the pan but they were so good I scraped them off to get every last bite. Will make again. Thanks for all the yummy, accessible plant-based recipes!
merav says
hi! it looks amazing, I was just wandering is there another sauce I can make which will be less spicy but will still match the dish?
Thank you!
Hi Merav, you can make the homemade enchilada sauce and modify the spice level by adjusting the amount of arbol chilies. Hope that helps!
Nelcy says
This recipe is delicious!!!!! I love your recipes. I am plant based and sometimes get bored of bowls and I am not a soup person. This enchiladas are definitely staying in my weekly menu. I made them a week ago and they are still good!!!I didn’t have black beans so went for canned black lentils and it was actually pretty good. And the cilantro lime sauce….out of this world!!!!!! Keep posting delicious recipes like this one please!!!!
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Nelcy!
Soriya says
This recipe was so insanely good! I can’t believe how flavorful everything was.. from the enchilada sauce to the avocado crema.. OMG. So filling, too! This is absolutely going to be added into the recipe rotation from now on!
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Soriya. Thanks for sharing! xo
Elizabeth Sheldon says
This was great. I made some modifications- baked the sweet potatoes whole, then mashed them and added spices. Added the beans and then filled the tortillas. Topped with onion and black olives. So good!
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth!
Emma-Anne Lonsford says
This recipe was a hit, I loved it, but more importantly my husband loved it too and he claims that he doesn’t like sweet potatoes or kale… the only change I made was to add a jalapeño to the avocado Crema to give it a little kick. Will definitely be adding this to my regular rotation, thanks again Minimalist Baker!
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Emma!
Genevieve says
Just yes. Yaaasssssss.
Imelda says
Normally not a fan of enchiladas but this will make you change your mind even though I used
El Pato enchilada sauce. The crema took it to another level. Also better the next day.
Will make your sauce next time.
Thanks for all your work!
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Imelda! We are so glad you enjoyed them! xo
Rhonda Mowat says
Love, love, love. I sprinkle vegan parmesan cheese before I bake. New favourite!
Lara says
Hello! Hoping to make this recipe again for the 3rd time for a dinner party. Can it be prepared ahead of time? What step should I get up to?
That should work. I’d prepare it up until baking, refrigerate, then bake when needed! Do this no more than 24 hours in advance.
Elizabeth Hauler says
Made this tonight and it was a hit. I used Sky Valley Red Enchilada Sauce (gf, vegan), made the mega flavorful Avocado Crema. So delicious, will definitely make this again soon. The Avocada Crema will be on regular rotation around here. Thanks Dana for another great recipe ?
So great! Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth!
Claudia Healey says
BEST RECIPE EVER. We have used this recipe for almost a year now and are always delighted to make it. I make my tortillas from scratch too which I totally recommend (I think its fun). So simple yet satisfying :)
Thanks, Claudia!
Uzhmaa says
What could I use as a substitute for the cashew nuts?
Are you referring to the avocado cream? Feel free to omit the cashews and blend with a little water, if needed! Hope that helps!
Agnieszka says
It was my first time making enchiladas and they were amazing! They were also super easy to make, definitely using this recipe again!
Karla says
Very yummy- and the Avocado Crema was over the top! Loved it all
Yay! We’re glad to hear that, Karla!
Cora Colebank says
I LOVE THIS RECIPE! I just made it for dinner tonight and my hubby thought it was great too. I made the Avocado Crema and garnished with jalapeños…used Sprout’s brand organic red enchilada sauce. Thank you for coming up with amazing recipes!
Therese says
Had this for dinner tonight. It was delicious.
We used Hatch Green enchilada sauce and instead of rolling the tortillas just left them flat and layered them. Saved a little of the topping for the top, added cheese.
A little do ahead tip was that we prepped the sweet potatoes in the morning before work and then put them in the oven and set the auto timer. By the time we got home from work, the sweet potatoes were done cooking, the oven was heated up, and everything is ready to be assembled.
Outstanding.
Marin says
Absolutely amazing! I used the homemade beans recipe (made them yesterday.. they were INCREDIBLE) thank you so much for ALL of your recipes and advice.
Diane says
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I normally make a salad out of a frozen vegan enchilada I buy but we are eating cleaner which means no more frozen entrees, so this should do the trick! Also I LOVE that you include nutrition info (even estimates) for your recipes! I’m a carb counting Type 1 diabetic (as well as a vegan) so carb counts are essential for correct bolusing! Thanks!
We hope you love it, Diane!
Maddy Patel says
Made this for a brunch and it was a hit amongst my guests! I did make some modifications and used ready made “Sunvista” red sauce. Used half yams and half sweet potatoes. Added garlic powder to both the sweet potatoes and kale. Used purple kale since it’s less bitter and softer. Made the green sauce with cilantro, soaked walnuts and coconut cream. Everything came out to be perfect! Really amazing recipe. Next time I’ll add a dash of tamarind sauce to the green sauce. Dana, you never fail to impress with your creative recipes.
Thanks for sharing, Maddy! We’re so glad you have been enjoying our recipes :D
Madison says
I’m trying to make some freezer-to-oven meals for a busy month coming up – would you recommend cooking all the way through then freezing the finished product, or could I freeze right before placing in the oven and then pull out of the freezer to cook? These look so good, can’t wait to make them either way. Thank you!
Noknok says
Madison, I doubled the recipe up through assembly stage and made half for dinner tonight and the remainder split in single-serving sized pairs in my smallest Pyrex bakeware, lined with parchment paper. That way, once they are solid enough, I can pull them out of the Pyrex and seal them into airtight bags, while leaving my baking dishes free. When ready to cook, slip them (parchment and all) back into the dishes straight to the oven without defrosting. Just add an extra 5-10 mins to the baking time.
MB- Thank you for the recipe – even my swears-he-hates-black beans-and-kale-teenager wolfed down three of these. I made the enchilada sauce too, but used roasted fresh peppers. They wound up being a little bitter, but the sweetness of the sweet potatoes helped mitigate the bitterness in the overall dish and wound up being a nice balance.
Rena T says
These were really good! They reminded me of the black bean enchiladas from Trader Joe’s which is a very good thing.
Something went wrong with my sauce quantity (or maybe I just prefer saucier than average?) so next time I will make a double batch of Dana’s enchilada sauce to ensure I have enough. Mine were just slightly drier than I would have wanted (granted, with a splash of water in the reheat process and various salsas/ sauces they were still amazing).
Robin says
I cooked the kale and sweet potatoes in the morning before work and that night dinner was ready in no time. It was so good, my family did not miss the cheese. I would definitely make this again, it was comforting and delicious.
Derek-Leigh Vocea says
Wonderful recipe! Made this tonight for my husband as he’s been vegan a while now and usually does all the vegan cooking. Had majority of the ingredients on hand which was great. Great flavour and went well with the avocado creme. Also topped with nutritional yeast as mentioned by another commentator and it was absolutely delicious. So great to have enchiladas again that tasted great!
Cate says
Does the nutrition information include the avocado crema?
It doesn’t!
ROb says
We have recently started eating mostly plant based foods. Our recent trip to New Orleans and all of the great non plant based food got me to searching for more plant based food that was not just healthy, but tasty as well. This one fits the bill. Maybe the best enchiladas we have ever had period!!! Just incredible!! I made per the recipe but added a little ancho chili powder as well
We are so glad you enjoyed them, Rob!
Max Dieterich says
This was so good and I made the sauce from scratch. This is king of “everything I have” foods I ever made! Even used a couple of red chilis I’ve had drying for over a month! My husband also loves it and that makes us winners since he is a big meet eater.
Will definitely make again and highly recommend <3
Gina says
I’ve followed you for years but realized I’d never made a single recipe!! My son was getting ready to leave for the military and his girlfriend is vegan – I wanted us to all be able to have dinner together so I suggested to my son that they pick a recipe from your site and make us all dinner. They ended up making dinner 2 nights and this was one of them. It was AAAAAMAZING!! In fact, I am headed to the store to get the ingredients to make it again. I’m not even vegan and this was seriously so delicious. So was the other dish they made. I will definitely be making more of your recipes more often.
Dakota says
Seriously love when a vegan dish is so delicious that meat eaters request it all the time. Feels like a little win to getting them to the dark side :)
So delicious and the sauce is so awesome. We usually do chickpeas for ththe beans and add lots of fresh peppers from the garden for sauce. Keep doin what youre doin, you’re seriously killing it!
Whoop! We are glad it was a hit, Dakota!
Lara says
Oh my god.
I made this last night (along with the red enchilada sauce) and it was SO GOOD.
I’m Mexican and a meat-eater, but my partner is vegan and I’ve been trying to cut down heavily on my meat consumption and find ways to incorporate more vegetarian meals into my traditional cooking. Honestly, although I’ve had yummy vegetable-based Mexican food before of course, this was really the first time I felt like a vegetarian main Mexican meal was just as yummy (if not yummier) than the meat alternative! I cannot wait to make this again.
I used 12 tortillas to make 12 enchiladas in total. My tray would only fit 6 (which was all we needed for that dinner anyway) and so I just layered the second 6 into the tray for cooking today. Just cooked these up for lunch and they were even better after having a night to soak up all the flavour of the sauce and spices. YUM! Highly, highly recommend this recipe.
akashocd says
Wow this is looking super delicious, thank you for sharing your blog
Trudy Black says
I am a believer, I had a guest who has a gluten free diet so I looked for not only gluten free recipes, but delicious recipes. These enchiladas were amazing. I found the New Mexico dried chilis in the store, felt so proud making my own sauce. I was afraid it would be too spicy, but it was perfect. Got some fresh corn at the farmer’s market, had corn on the cob with the enchiladas., this meal was a huge hit. Thank you for your healthy, and just as important, delicious recipes.
Chris says
Another great recipe. I would double the enchilada sauce next time. Mine were a little dry, but I probably used to much sweet potato.
Laurie Low says
Loved this! Made the avocado cream and red enchilada sauce and took it to a new mom along with corn on the cob and watermelon (great summertime meal). They all loved the meal. I made it in my Air Fryer (in a small insert pan) so I didn’t heat up my kitchen! The leftover filling was great over brown rice.
Shannon says
This was SO delicious! Next time, I’ll be sure to better warm the corn tortillas to make them more pliable, less crumbly. As I had the same experience as Kate (above) using Guerrero brand tortillas–but they *were* a few days old.
I’m not gluten free so next time I’ll experiment with fresher corn tortillas and try some using flour, as well. I will also dice the sweet potatoes much smaller in order to get more seasoned surface area and get more savory filling in each bite.
I’m totally in love with the avocado crema recipe, as well! Absolutely heavenly!
JC says
Made this for dinner this evening and it was absolutely wonderful. My husband recently became a vegan, and I’ve been trying to find simple yet flavorful meals to cook for us. This was perfect! I sauteed two cloves of garlic along with my greens, and kept everything else exactly as the recipe called. Thank you!
Kate says
I’ve made so many different recipes from your site and have loved every one. Your website is my go-to for finding delicious meals, and I always trust your taste in the nuances of your recipes, because they’re always so flavorful and delicious.
This recipe took me a while. I started with the enchilada sauce and then moved on to the enchiladas once that was simmering. I felt your recipe was very straightforward and easy to follow. I tasted the sweet potatoes out of the oven and knew the enchiladas would be delicious.
Unfortunately, when it came to putting the filling in the tortillas, the corn tortillas immediately started splitting, and I knew I had trouble on my hands. I followed the recipe anyway, figuring they might be messy but would probably taste good anyway. That turned out to be the case, but unfortunately when I transferred the enchiladas to the plate, they completely broke apart and became a sad mush on the plate. ? I added some cilantro to the top to make it a bit prettier, and some avocado on the side. It did taste delicious, but I think next time I’ll use the filling as taco filling and skip the enchilada sauce. I’m guessing the corn tortillas I bought from the store are just not that high quality, but my options are pretty limited at the store I do my shopping at.
I had a couple extra enchiladas involved because I made slightly more sweet potatoes than needed; it seemed like 3 cups of enchilada sauce was a lot to add to the dish, but I tried to follow the recipe. Do you use the whole 3 cups on your enchiladas? How do you keep them from falling apart?
Hi Kate! We are sorry to hear that your tortillas fell apart! I am wondering if it was the brand used? Sometimes the freshness can affect their fragility as well..
Megan Hamilton says
Amazing! The whole family loved it and it could really be one of those clean out the refrigerator kind of recipes — so versatile. Thank you for making this family’s transition to vegan so easy.
Yay! Glad to hear it, Megan :D
Amber says
I never leave recipe reviews buuuuut..This was simply AMAZING! the enchillada sauce made it, i would recommend your recipe over shop bought sauce it was incredible. Thanks so much, I will be making this over and over again for sure!
Ella says
For this recipe, what are some subsitutions you could recommend instead of sweet potatoes?
You could try regular potatoes though the flavor would be totally different. Good luck!
Jen Boom says
Absolutely incredible and so easy! The flavor profile is amazing: sweet, savory, salty. I will make these again and again!
Hannah Ramirez says
Awesome recipe. My husband and I both enjoyed it. I went with the oil-free version. The only thing I did differently was to mash up the filling mixture with a potato masher just a tiny bit because I like that kind of consistency. Thank you!
Lauren says
I made this (added onions to the inside of the enchiladas) with the avocado cream for our weekly Bachelorette dinner watch party with males and females who love meat and are usually turned off by anything considered a “healthy recipe” and everyone LOVED this dish. I’m adding this into my staple rotation of dinner recipes. Great recipe to serve a group!! So delicious!
Yay! We’re glad it was a hit, Lauren!
Kevin Dahlhausen says
We made this tonight – another 5/5!!!
Next time I will double the Avocado Crema.
Thanks!
Yay! Glad you enjoyed it, Kevin!
Joan Belson says
I am not able to have lime juice due to a conflict with a medication I take. Would it be OK to substitute lemon juice instead? Thx,
Yes, that should work!
SGinOH says
I made these last night using plain Idaho potatoes, spinach and beans for filling. I had tomatoes sitting on the counter looking really sad, so I roasted those for the sauce. I did make the avocado cream per recipe and baked it with some Mexi -cheese. It was such a hit with us, turned out fantastic. A keeper, for sure. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe.
Yay! Thanks for sharing!
Sophia says
LOVED these enchiladas. Made the Red Enchilada Sauce to go along with them and my husband and I agreed this was the best Mexican food we’ve had since becoming vegan about a year ago. Highly recommend!
Sal says
These were yummy. My boyfriend totally digged them. I don’t like sweet potato anything but I liked these! Just had a hint of sweet which was great. Thanks!
Yay! We are glad you enjoyed them, Sal!
J says
This recipe was delicious.
I did use spinach instead of kale because I had a big bunch of it on hand, but everything else I followed as written. I had made a batch of the garlicky guacamole earlier in the afternoon, so I used that but next time I’ll try the avocado crema. I’m usually so-so on enchiladas but this sauce was so delicious I licked every spoon.
Mary says
I made this twice this week! Loved the video, loved the ease of the seasoned roasted sweet potatoes. I added onions and red bell pepper chunks to roast. I didn’t have kale so skipped it. I used corn tortillas rolled first and Sonoma GF Ivory Teff Wraps layered the second time. Both were great! I did add some grated pepper jack on top but will try it with Crema next. I have a black bean and squash enchilada recipe that I’ve made for years but yours was much simpler. Thanks!
Kandace says
Just made this for dinner this evening…yummy! I also added a few sliced canned green chilis to the mixture for a little extra kick. The only issue I had was they came out a little dry after cooking…I added more sauce like you suggested so not sure why they came out so dry. I’ll try adding more sauce next time & not cook them as long & see if that helps. Love your recipes! :-)
Cort says
These were *fantastic*. I am now full of enchiladas and happy and sleepy. (ー。ー) zzz
For those on the fence about the crema, it’s worth the extra step. It really knocked this out of the park. My only addition was a green hot sauce (and I used store bought enchilada sauce). It didn’t even need the extra green sauce, but the extra kick was nice.
I love em, but corn torts make me grumpy. Single-layer rolls broke easily, double-layer rolls held tight. I didn’t care about broken rolls here (more enchiladas > stronger enchiladas) but readers that want to keep it together should try doubling.
So good, thank you for all you do.
Allison Miera says
As a born and raised New Mexican I Am so excited to make some enchiladas that are vegan! My family doesn’t believe it’s possible to make New Mexican food vegan AND delicious and I will use this recipe as a way to show them you can :)
We hope you and your family love them, Allison!
Risa says
Hi,
Made this tonight-loved it ! Couple tweaks I added a tablespoon of maple syrup to the mixture to add a little flavor, also I mashed the mixture a bit which worked better placing into the tortillas. Only comment I had to microwave my tortilla around 20 seconds to get the soft.
Thanks so much ! I will absolutely make these again!!!
Risa
Brad Hollenbeck says
Wow! Very flavorful. Have admit I wondered how the sweet potato/kale combo would work for a Mexican inspired meal. Great flavor , easy to make. We added a little jack/cheddar cheese in the mix and it was delicious. Another home run for Dana
Tae B. says
I made these last night! My husband is a super picky eater and his exact words were “Babe these are chronic!”. He had 3 servings. I am very happy with how they turned out. thank you thank you!
Whoop! Ha. Thanks for sharing!
Sarah says
Just WOW. I added Mikoyos Vegan Mozz to the mix & on top. Plus, topped mine w the avo crema, cilantro & some jalapeños. Best recipe I’ve made in a LOOOOONG time. God bless you & delish plantbased food!!!
SMART! Thanks for sharing!
Marta Komlodi says
I loved the recipe. Easy to make, doesn’t require too much time and so tasty!
Thanks, Marta!
ACG says
I made this last night – I love your recipes! I tweaked mine a bit – I used store bought enchilada sauce and I made it as a layered
casserole rather than individual tamales. It was great! I love the avocado cream! After I made it my husband said maybe next time we could cream the sweet potatoes and black beans together before filling the enchiladas….either way, there will definitely be a next time!
Lovely, thanks for sharing!
Anna says
Made these tonight for my family! It was a big hit with everyone. I wasn’t able to get dried chilis so I used a recipe that had only spices and not peppers that was similar to yours.. hopefully next time I can get my hands on some dried peppers! p.s these are GREAT with homemade guac
Whoop! Thanks for sharing!
Cassie Thuvan Tran says
This is such a beautiful recipe! Have you tried this recipe with coconut wraps? They could possibly work if you cut them in half and wrap them, but I am not certain.
Not sure! Let us know if you give it a try.
Jane says
I made this and was actually pleasantly surprised at how easy and quick it was. (didn’t make the crema though!) More to the point we were in love with the flavours! My sauce was a bit of an adaptation as I didn’t have dried chillies so I just had to guess with chilli powder/cayenne/chipotle powder but I’m so glad I made a double batch because now it will be an even easier dinner another day! Thanks so much! :)
Lovely, thanks Jane!
Twinkle says
Loved this recipe! Added some onions along with beans & sweet potatoes. Used store bought enchilada sauce and topped with some spicy cilantro chutney-yogurt sauce.
SMART!
Luci says
I could not wait-your video was beautiful. I made the dish exactly as written. I usually follow the recipe as written before I make tweaks the next time. There are no tweaks! This is now my favorite
Vegan Enchilada recipe. The crema is amazing. Thank You!
Thanks, Luci!
Kat says
I really like the ability to convert to metric, thank you! I never noticed that before. It makes everything easier thing you can just weigh ingredients!
We are glad you found it helpful, Kat! It is a new feature we have just recently implemented :D
Kathy Rogers says
I have never attempted enchiladas because I thought it would be too time consuming, but your recipe seems doable (and enticing!). I’ve even seen recipes that refer to enchiladas as “fussy.” Given the fact that Mexican food is one of my favorite cuisines, I just gotta try this one! Thanks, Dana!
Smart! Thanks for sharing, Hannah.
Hannah Evelyn says
Thanks Dana for dinner inspiration tonight. Another delicious recipe (yours always are). I sprinkled some nutritional yeast on top when it came out of the oven. Hearty and filling.
Carissa Nelson | Spoonful of Easy says
Love the idea of putting sweet potatoes in an enchilada! Plus your picture looks absolutely amazing with that rich sauce and that zig zaggy sour cream on top. Can’t wait to try!